Tokmok

Tokmok ( Kyrgyz Токмок; Russian Токмак / Tokmak ) is a nordkirgisische town just a few kilometers from the border with Kazakhstan.

History

Tokmok was founded in 1830 as a military base of the Khanate of Kokand Central Asia. Only thirty years later, it was conquered during the tsarist colonial occupation of Central Asia by Russian troops, who destroyed the fort. The present city dates back to the founding of a Russian settlement in May 1864 by decree Major General Mikhail Grigoryevich Tschernjajew same place.

In the Soviet Union was on the airfield, just east of the city a large Air Force base, on the particular fighter pilots were trained from Eastern European, Arab and African states. This period is remembered even today a large monument with an Ilyushin Il -28 bombers in the center of town.

From 2003 to 19 April 2006, the city was the administrative seat of the territory Tschüi.

The city is the location of services and industrial companies, but since the dissolution of the Soviet Union lost many jobs and residents. During 1989, more than 73,000 people in Tokmok lived and the city so was the third largest in the country, there were in 2009 only a little more than 53,000 and Tokmok fell back to fifth place.

Attractions

About 15 km south of the city is the Burana Tower, a monument from the 11th century on the site of an ancient city facility that was probably as Balasagun a major site of Sogdians and later for a time the capital of the Qarakhanid, of the date, however, just a big mound has remained. Next to it is a collection of medieval grave stones (so-called " Bul - Bul " - or " Bal - Bal " stones). In the environment excavated by Soviet archaeologists Scythian finds are on display in museums in Bishkek and Saint Petersburg.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Kosenkow Alexander (* 1977), German track and field athlete
• Maija Mánesa ( born 1985 ), Kazakh weightlifter
• Athanasius Schneider ( * 1961), Roman Catholic Bishop
• Dennis Wolf (born 1978 ), German bodybuilder